maher



Jan. 3. 1956 l. B. MAHER 2,728,935

COLLAPSIBLE SHOE SHINE BOX Filed July 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NE: 5. MAHEQ ATTOQN EY-S Jan. 3, 1956 B. MAHER 2,728,935

COLLAPSIBLEZ SHOE SHINE BOX Filed July 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LS/ C a w IN V EN TOR.- 23 .LE Was 8. MAHED.

AT'T'O QMEYS United States Patent O COLLAPSIBLE SHOE SHINE BOX Ives B. Maher, Brooklyn, N. Y. 7 Application July 10, 1953, Serial No. 367,223

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-465) This invention relates to an improved collapsible shoe shine box, and among important objects of the invention are to provide a more practical and serviceable collapsible shoe shine box which is more compact and readily portable, is of small size so as to save space in storage and in merchandizing displays as well as in shipment, and can be made in an attractive and rugged form from a variety of suitable materials at very low expense for fabrication and assembly.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view in open position;

Figure 2 is a perspective in closed position;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals and letters designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated collapsible shoe shine box, generally designated 7 is designed as a container for shoe shining articles, such as applicators, polishing brushes and cloths, and shoe polish; and as a stand or foot rest, upon which a shoe can be supported during shining operations.

The box 7 can be made of any suitable materials or combinations of materials and given any desired finish or ornamentation.

The box 7 comprises a bottom section or receptacle A which is preferably elongated rectangular in shape and includes a bottom wall 8, side walls 9, 9, and end walls 10, 10, all of substantially the same height, and proportioned to contain the desired amount of shoe shining articles. Hinge rods or shafts 11 and 12, respectively, extend across opposite ends of the bottom section A close to the inner sides of the end walls and close to the upper edges thereof. The ends of the rods extend through holes provided in the side walls 9, 9. Near the rod 12 the upper edges 13, 13 of the side walls 9, 9 are provided with clearance notches 14, 14 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The box 7 further comprises a cover section or top B which is somewhat wider than the bottom section A and has longitudinal side flanges 15, 15 projecting at right angles from opposite sides or the web 16 and spaced from each other at such a distance that the side flanges 15 engage the outer sides of the bottom section side walls 9, 9 when the cover section B is closed onto the bottom section A.

The cover section B is of about the same length as the bottom section, has a squared end 17 and a tapered free end 18 which terminates in a right angular ear 2,728,935 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 or tab 19. A keeper slot 20 is formed in the web 16 close to and parallel to the tab 19. Near the squared end 17, the ends of the hinge rod 12 project through the cover section side flanges 15, 15 at such spacing from the squared end 17. that the part of the web 16 between the rod 12 and the web end 17 engages the outer side of the adjacent end wall 10 and prevents the cover section B from tilting outwardly from its open right angle relation to the bottom section A as shown in Figures land 3. For ease of operation the ends of the side flanges 15, 15 are beveled or tapered, as indicated at 21.

The box 7 further comprises an upright or standard section C having a web 22 slightly wider than the bottom section A, and longitudinal side flanges 23, squared at the ends 24, and beveled or tapered at the ends 25. The ends of the hinge rod 11 extend through the side flanges 23 at a point spaced from the end 26 of the web 22 such that the part of the web so defined will supportably engage the outer side of the adjacent end wall 112 of the bottom section A and prevent the standard section C from tilting outwardly away from the bottom section C from perpendicular open position. The ends 26 and 27 of the section C are squared. Close to the flange ends 24 the side flanges 23 are traversed by a third hinge rod or shaft 28. A keeper slot 29 is provided in the web 22 which is parallel to and spaced upwardly from the hinge rod 11. The bottom section end wall adjacent to the standard section C is provided with a keeper slot 30 paralleling and spaced upwardly from the bottom wall 8.

Hinged to the free end of the standard section C by the hinge rod 28 and positioned Within the side flanges 23 is a foot rest section D, whose web 31 has side edges which taper from the squared hinged end 32 to its free end 33. The web 31 has side flanges 34 which also taper from the web end 32 to the free end 33. The web 31 has side flanges 34 which also taper from the web end 32 to the free end 33. The narrow free end 33 terminates in a tongue 35 whose free end is rolled under so as to provide thereon a depending detent bead 36.

In the fully open and set up position of the box 7, shown in Figures 1 and 3, the cover section B and the standard section C are perpendicular to the bottom section and are braced thereagainst, and the tongue 35 extends through the keeper slot 20 in the free end of the cover section A. The parts are proportioned so that the detent head 36 acts as a catch or detent preventing the tongue 35 from coming out of the slot 20, without substantial stress being exerted on the parts, and holds the free end of the foot rest section D against the inner side of the cover section B. In this way the foot rest section D firmly braces the sections B and C relative to each other and to the bottom section A, and the foot rest section D is firmly supported for supporting a shoe thereon while being shined.

To collapse the box 7, the tongue 35 is disengaged from the slot 20 and the foot rest section D is permitted to swing downwardly toward the standard section C. The sections D and C are then together swung inwardly over the bottom section A and the free end of the section D is passed outwardly through the slot 30 in the end wall of the bottom section A, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, and the standard section C then closed down upon the bottom section A. The notches 14 in the bottom section side walls 9, 9 provide clearance for the hinge rod 28 of the standard section C when so closed. To complete the collapsing of the box 7 the cover section B is then swung down upon the standard section C, and the tab 19 inserted through the standard section slot 29.

It is obvious that the collapsed box is only attraction of the height of the opened box, but that in its open position the box 7 is of full and adequate size and height. Feet 38 for supporting the box 7 on a surface may be provided by indenting the bottom wall 8 of the bottom section A, and provision for hanging up the box 7 on a wall hook may be made by cutting a keyhole slot 39 in one end of the bottom wall of the bottom section A.

What is claimed is:

1. In a box, a bottom section having side walls and end walls, a cover section having a web and side flanges, one end of said side flanges being engaged with the outer sides of said side walls, first hinge means hinging said one end of said side flanges to upper portions of the bottom section side walls at one end of the bottom section, a standard section having a web and side flanges engaged with the outer sides of the bottom section side walls at the opposite end of the bottom section from said cover section, second hinge means hinging the standard section side flanges on the bottom section side walls at said opposite end of the bottom section and at one end of said standard section, said standard section having another free end, a foot rest section having a web and side flanges positioned at the inner sides of the standard section side flanges, a third hinge means hinging the foot rest section side flanges at one end to the standard section side flanges at the free end of the standard section, said foot rest section having another free end, a detent tongue on the last-mentioned free end, said tongue being narrower than the last-mentioned free end so as to define an abutment at a side of the tongue engaging the inner side of the web of said cover section, the web of the cover section being, provided with a keeper slot through which said tongue removably extends, said cover and standard sections being perpendicular to the bottom section and braced apart at their free ends by said foot rest section, said cover and standard sections having portions at their other ends supportably engaging the outer sides of the bottom section end walls, the web of said standard section having a keeper slot and the free end of said cover section having a lateral tab engageable through the last-mentioned keeper slot when the cover section is superimposed upon the standard section in the collapsed position of the box.

2. In a box, a bottom section having side walls and end walls, a cover section having a web and side flanges, one end of said side flanges being engaged with the outer sides of said side walls, first hinge means hinging.

said one end of said side flanges to upper portions of the bottom section side walls at one end of the bottom section, a standard section having a web and side flanges engaged with the outer sides of the bottom section side walls at the opposite end of the bottom section from said cover section, second hinge means hinging the standard section side flanges on the bottom section side walls at said opposite end of the bottom section and at one end of said standard section, said standard section having another free end, a foot rest section having a web and side flanges positioned at the inner sides of the standard section side flanges, a third hinge means hinging the foot rest section side flanges at one end to the standard section side flanges at the free end of the standard sectiomsaid foot rest section having another free end, a detent tongue on the last-mentioned free end, said tongue being narrower than the last-mentioned free end so as to define an abutment at a side of the tongue engaging the inner side ofvthe web of said cover section, the web of the cover section being provided with a keeper slot through which said tongue removably extends, said cover and standard sections being perpendicular to the bottom section and braced apart at their free ends by said foot rest section, said cover and standard sections having portions at their other ends supportably engaging, the outer sides of the bottom section end walls, the web of said standard section having a keeper slot and the free end of said cover section having a lateral tab engageable through the last-mentioned keeper slot when'the cover section is superimposed upon the standard section in the collapsed position of the box, an end wall of said bottom section having a keeper slot through which the tongue equipped end of said foot rest section is adapted to be positioned with said foot rest section folded relative to the standard section and positioned in the bottom section in the collapsed condition of the box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,291 Hurlbut Jan. 30, 1866 696,243 Johnston Mar. 25, 1902 1,222,581 Shuey Apr. 10, 1917 1,336,895 Driver et al. Apr. 13, 1920 1,346,585 Arter July 13, 1920 1,445,292 Burwell Feb. 13, 1923 

